In 2023, Florida became the first state to restrict students' cell phone usage during class . Indiana and Ohio soon followed.

This year, the Sunshine State may ban them entirely .

House Bill 949 , filed by Rep. Demi Busatta, R-Coral Gables, would do just that, outright banning the use of all wireless communications devices during the school day, although it would keep the 2023 law's provision for schools to designate locations where students could use their phones or other devices "with the express permission of a school administrator."

A different bill filed by Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, would go a little more slowly to see what happens. The bill, SB 1296 , calls for banning phone usage on school grounds or during certain school activities off grounds in six Florida school districts during the 2025-2026 school year with an eye toward crafting policy for the rest of the state.

“Data shows that eliminating the cell phone distraction, not only in the classroom as Florida has in place now, but throughout the entire school day, produces better outcomes – both from a school climate perspective as well as academic,” said Nathan Hoffman, senior legislative director of Foundation for Florida’s Future, which supports the bill.

A 2023 Pew Research Center analysis found that 72% of the high school teachers surveyed said cellphone usage in classrooms distract students, although (unsurprisingly) 70% of students aged 13-17 said that phone usage was generally more positive than negative in a classroom and 45% said that smartphones benefited their educational experience. Nearly a quarter of the teens polled said phones made learning more difficult and 30% did not notice a difference.

What states ban cell phone use in schools?

Many other states including California , Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey, New York , Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Vermont have either considered or passed student phone use bans in the last couple of years.

However, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a phone ban last year , saying schools were already handling the issue on their own. According to the Pew study , in 2024 82% of K-12 teachers in the U.S. said their school or district already had some sort of cellphone policy in place.

Bans in other states range in severity, with some allowing phone use during lunch and in between classes. Some districts require students to bag their phones in sealed pouches or store them in lockers during school hours.

Critics of student phone bans worry that in case of emergencies, including school shootings, immediate communication between students and parents or law enforcement is vital.

“A HUGE debate that comes up in our group is the fear of school shootings," said Jodie Sherrill, one of the main moderators in the Parenting in a Tech World forum. "Many parents argue they want their child to reach them in that tragic event; the parent wants to reach the child; perhaps they can help get them out, or even just to say “I love you” one last time.”

What does SB 1296, Use of Wireless Communications Devices in Schools do?

If the bill goes into effect, the Department of Education would select six school districts representing two small, two medium, and two large counties to enact a school phone ban. By the end of 2026, they would provide a report on the effects on student achievement and behavior and create a model policy based on their findings that other school districts and charter schools in Florida can adopt.

Students in those districts would not be permitted to use phones or personal electronic devices during the entire school day, while on school grounds, or while engaged in school activities off school grounds during the school day.

The bill does not say that students may not carry phones, only that they may not use them.

The pilot program's report must also report on the number of violations that include phone use for illegal activities, bullying, harassment, threatening, cheating, or capturing or displaying images or video of a student during a medical issue or "engaged in misconduct."

When would the student phone ban in Florida take effect?

Both bills have a start date of July 1, 2025, if approved by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.